Category: Politics
‘s former war zone
September 13, 2011 (AFP) – US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake toured Sri Lanka’s former war zone on Tuesday to meet students, community leaders and government officials two years after the island’s civil war ended. Blake, the top US diplomat for South and Central Asia, was in the northern Jaffna region to see development […]
US envoy in Sri Lanka as UN rights meet starts
September 12, 2011 (AFP) – US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake arrived in Colombo Monday for talks that coincide with a UN meeting in Geneva that is set to discuss alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict. Blake, the top US diplomat for South and Central Asia, would raise the allegations with all […]
Sri Lanka against UN sending probe report to rights body
GENEVA, September 12, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Monday took issue with a planned UN move to forward a damning report on the country to the Human Rights Council, complaining that Colombo was not notified about the action. Sri Lanka Minister of Plantation Industries Mahinda Samarasinghe claimed that at a briefing on September 9 […]
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September 10, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Saturday that Amnesty International comments on the island’s probe into its military victory over Tamil rebels, were an “interference” in the country’s sovereignty. Amnesty International on Wednesday said Sri Lanka’s inquiry panel was “flawed at every level” and no substitute for an international war crimes investigation. The […]
Sri Lanka to start diplomatic relations with El Salvadore
Sept 09, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will start diplomatic relations with El Salvadore, a small state in Central America, deputy economic development minsiter Lakshman Abeywardene, said. He said Sri Lanka’s envoy to Brazil will also be accredited to El Salvador. Abeywardene said over the past five years trade between the two countries has started […]
Rights group urges Sri Lanka to end detention laws
September 8, 2011 (AFP) – The Human Rights Watch lobby group on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka to scrap draconian detention laws and free thousands of people held under the regulations. The New York-based body said Sri Lanka’s ending of a decades-long state of emergency last week would have little effect as separate anti-terror laws still […]
” war probe
September 7, 2011 (AFP) – Amnesty International on Wednesday said Sri Lanka’s inquiry into its military victory over Tamil rebels was “flawed at every level” and no substitute for an international war crimes investigation. The human rights watchdog issued a 69-page report slamming the work of the government’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) ahead […]
Sri Lanka mayoral candidate promises jobs, decent housing
Sep 05, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party mayoral candidate for the capital intends to organize job fairs for unemployed youth and promised decent housing for squatters uprooted from prime land being cleared for commercial development. Milinda Moragoda said he œwill bring in a professional and capable administration, which will help ensure that Colombo […]
Sri Lanka businesses warn against economic sanctions
Sep 02, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s large trade have criticized a report by a UN panel alleging human rights abuses in a civil war that ended in 2009, and warned against international economic sanctions. The panel called for probes in to allegations of war crimes by both sides of the conflict in the latter […]
Sri Lanka Navy expands presence along coast
August 28, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s navy is setting up new bases along the island’s north western and eastern coasts to bridge security gaps that existed during the separatist Tamil Tiger insurgency, its commander said. The Navy said with strengthened presence and expanded operational capabilities it will be in a better position to guard […]
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LONDON, August 28, 2011 (AFP) – An independent inquiry into the death of an Iraqi prisoner in British custody in Iraq will clear the army of systematic torture but individual soldiers will be strongly criticised, a report said Sunday. The British probe has been investigating the death of hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, who died two […]
‘s killers to hang next month
CHENNAI, August 27, 2011 (AFP) – Three men convicted of the 1991 assassination of then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi will be hanged early next month, a senior jail official has said. The announcement late Friday that the executions would be carried out on September 9 came after India’s president rejected mercy pleas from the […]